Viglen
Encyclopedia
Viglen Ltd provides IT
products and services, including storage systems, servers, workstations and data/voice communications equipment and services.
company was formed in 1975 by Vigen Boyadjian and was acquired by Alan Sugar
(later Lord Sugar)'s company Amstrad
in 1994. During the 1980s the company specialised in direct sales through multi-page advertisements in leading computer magazines, catering particularly, but not exclusively, to owners of Acorn Computers.
In 1997, it was listed as a public limited company
and Amstrad plc shares were split into Viglen and Betacom
shares, Betacom being renamed to Amstrad PLC. Following the sale of Amstrad PLC to Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB, Viglen is now Lord Sugar's sole IT establishment. Viglen is run by CEO Bordan Tkachuk
, a long time associate of Lord Sugar, who can be seen making special guest appearances on The Apprentice
.
From 1994 to 1998, the company sponsored Charlton Athletic F.C.
, expiring when they won promotion to the FA Premier League
.
Viglen focuses particularly on the education and public sectors, selling both desktop and server systems. Viglen also has interests in other IT markets such as managed services, high-performance clusters, and network-attached storage.
In December 2005, Viglen relocated from its London headquarters in Wembley
to Colney Street
near St. Albans into a building which also houses its fabrication plant.
On 1 July 2009, Lord Sugar resigned as the chairman of Viglen (and most of his other companies), handing over the reins of the company to long time associate Claude Littner
. Lord Sugar is a member of the House of Lords and has stated his wish to help small and growing businesses.
, West London. As the computer systems business grew the purses and incubators were eventually phased out.
, with various scenes including the infamous "job interviews" being set there. The "walk of shame" exit sequence at the end of every episode, showing the contestant leaving the building and boarding a taxi is also filmed at the Viglen Headquarters. The boardroom scenes are actually filmed in a West London television studio.
On the 15th December 2010, CEO Bordan Tkachuk, during a mock "interview" situation on The Apprentice, told a candidate that "ISP" stood for "Internet Service Protocol" (instead of Internet Service Provider), resulting in widespread criticism:
"I know what ISP is. It's an Internet Service Protocol. And that's what you're providing. It's not a telecoms operating license. It's a protocol that allows telecoms over bandwidths.
"I've been running Alan Sugar's companies for the last 25 years, and that's why I know a little bit about technology."
—Bordan Tkachuk
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
products and services, including storage systems, servers, workstations and data/voice communications equipment and services.
History
The BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
company was formed in 1975 by Vigen Boyadjian and was acquired by Alan Sugar
Alan Sugar
Alan Michael Sugar, Baron Sugar is a British entrepreneur, media personality and political advisor. From humble origins in the East End of London, Sugar now has an estimated fortune of £770m , and was ranked 89th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2011...
(later Lord Sugar)'s company Amstrad
Amstrad
Amstrad is a British electronics company, now wholly owned by BSkyB. As of 2006, Amstrad's main business is manufacturing Sky Digital interactive boxes....
in 1994. During the 1980s the company specialised in direct sales through multi-page advertisements in leading computer magazines, catering particularly, but not exclusively, to owners of Acorn Computers.
In 1997, it was listed as a public limited company
Public limited company
A public limited company is a limited liability company that sells shares to the public in United Kingdom company law, in the Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth jurisdictions....
and Amstrad plc shares were split into Viglen and Betacom
Betacom
Founded in 1966, Betacom is an electronics company specialising in audio and visual products. In 1992 Sir Alan Sugar's Amstrad purchased a 29.9% stake in the company from Canon Street Investments PLC. A rights issue and subscription increased Amstrad's shareholding in Betacom to 71.3%...
shares, Betacom being renamed to Amstrad PLC. Following the sale of Amstrad PLC to Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB, Viglen is now Lord Sugar's sole IT establishment. Viglen is run by CEO Bordan Tkachuk
Bordan Tkachuk
Bordan Tkachuk is a British business executive , the current CEO of Viglen, also known from his appearances on the BBC-produced British version of The Apprentice, interviewing for his boss Lord Sugar.-Career:...
, a long time associate of Lord Sugar, who can be seen making special guest appearances on The Apprentice
The Apprentice (UK)
The Apprentice is a British reality television series in which a group of aspiring young businessmen and women compete for the chance to win a £100,000-a-year job as an apprentice to the British business magnate Lord Sugar in series one to six...
.
From 1994 to 1998, the company sponsored Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, expiring when they won promotion to the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
.
Viglen focuses particularly on the education and public sectors, selling both desktop and server systems. Viglen also has interests in other IT markets such as managed services, high-performance clusters, and network-attached storage.
In December 2005, Viglen relocated from its London headquarters in Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
to Colney Street
Colney Street
Colney Street is a village in the English county of Hertfordshire.It lies on the A5183 road, this was formerly the A5 road and, before that, Roman Britain's Watling Street. In addition its northern boundary is delineated by the M25 motorway. These location advantages have led to it becoming a...
near St. Albans into a building which also houses its fabrication plant.
On 1 July 2009, Lord Sugar resigned as the chairman of Viglen (and most of his other companies), handing over the reins of the company to long time associate Claude Littner
Claude Littner
Claude Littner is a British business executive, the current Chairman of Viglen, also known from his appearances on the BBC-produced British version of The Apprentice, interviewing for his former boss Lord Sugar.-Career:...
. Lord Sugar is a member of the House of Lords and has stated his wish to help small and growing businesses.
Other business
In the early 80s, Viglen also manufactured baby incubators as well as leather coin purses for London Transport. These items were made alongside computer systems in the Trumpers Way factory in HanwellHanwell
Hanwell is a town situated in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, between Ealing and Southall. The motto of Hanwell Urban District Council was Nec Aspera Terrent...
, West London. As the computer systems business grew the purses and incubators were eventually phased out.
The Apprentice
The new headquarters doubles up as one of the filming locations for the hit BBC show The ApprenticeThe Apprentice (UK)
The Apprentice is a British reality television series in which a group of aspiring young businessmen and women compete for the chance to win a £100,000-a-year job as an apprentice to the British business magnate Lord Sugar in series one to six...
, with various scenes including the infamous "job interviews" being set there. The "walk of shame" exit sequence at the end of every episode, showing the contestant leaving the building and boarding a taxi is also filmed at the Viglen Headquarters. The boardroom scenes are actually filmed in a West London television studio.
On the 15th December 2010, CEO Bordan Tkachuk, during a mock "interview" situation on The Apprentice, told a candidate that "ISP" stood for "Internet Service Protocol" (instead of Internet Service Provider), resulting in widespread criticism:
"I know what ISP is. It's an Internet Service Protocol. And that's what you're providing. It's not a telecoms operating license. It's a protocol that allows telecoms over bandwidths.
"I've been running Alan Sugar's companies for the last 25 years, and that's why I know a little bit about technology."
—Bordan Tkachuk